A FILM-MAKER from America has premiered his debut movie in Swansea, to raise cash for a local cancer charity.

Gary Irving, who was raised in Rhossili and who is Hollywood legend Paul Newman's son-in-law, dedicated the proceeds from the screening of his surfing documentary Antics to Maggie's Centre in Singleton Hospital.

The centre, which gives advice and support to people touched by cancer, has helped Gary's sister, Michelle, and mother, Sue, from Cockett, with their battles with breast cancer.

Gary, aged 39, also wanted to unveil the film in his home town Swansea for the surfing community, where his love for the sport was born.

He said: "I was originally inspired to surf by my friend PJ, who runs the surf shop in Llangennith. If it hadn't been for him I probably wouldn't have started surfing, which was what lead me to move to America. And that is where I met my wife, Nell. For four years, when I was supposed to be studying at Swansea College, I would wait in the canteen with my friends until my mother had gone to work, and go home and get my surf gear.

"Then we would head to the beach for a surf. We would choose which beach depending on how much petrol money we had between us.

"I don't regret it one bit because if it wasn't for surfing I don't know what I would be doing now."

Gary has lived in Santa Cruz on America's west coast for 14 years, where he filmed Antics.

The film, previewed in the Taliesin Arts Centre, features some of the top surfers from the Santa Cruz area in action. It took almost four years to complete.

Among the guests were staff from Maggie's Centre, and former European surf champion Chris "Guts" Griffiths.

Gary's father-in-law, Paul Newman, donated £10,000 towards the cancer unit at Singleton Hospital after they treated his mum, Sue, in 2003.

Earlier this month, the Hollywood icon died of cancer, aged 83, at his home in Connecticut.

Gary added: "Cancer can affect everybody — it doesn't respect age, race or sex. That's why I wanted to help Maggie's Centre, because they have been such a big help to my family. They definitely helped my sister on a difficult journey."

Bec McWhirter, of Mayals, who works as a nurse on Morriston Hospital's oncology wards, said of Antics: "The film Antics really captured the spirit of surfing, and it's fantastic that proceeds are going to a local cancer charity."

The film Antics can be bought from PJ's surf shop in Llangennith.

Web link

www.back40productions.net